need help on decision to step up 9800gtx+

[john_antonio]

hi.. i need help cause i currently own a 9800gtx+ from evga.. i have 25 more days to go before the step up offer expires.. I play games.. i experience some stuttering and lag while playing hellgate london on 1440x900 noAA all very high.. so i was wondering what could be wrong.. i oc my gpu to 792mhz core clock and 1192 mem clock.. i was thinking that my card is too slow to perform other games that might come out.. so i thought i should step up to gtx 260 or 9800gx2.. but i think it would take too long for evga to process it until it comes back to me and i can't take not playing pc.. so what should i do guys? should i step up or just sli? I don't have an sli board but can buy if needed another 9800gtx+...

 

[-Fran-]

Uhm... I'd say go for the step up program and get a GTX280/9800GX2/48701GB (if ATI is allowed also, lol). If you *really* need a PC around those days, get a cheap ass card and game on that on the meantime. I'd say that would be cheaper than getting the 2nd 9800GTX+ and the MoBo.

Esop!

 

[dagger]

Between gtx260 and 9800gx2, step up to 9800gx2, especially since you don't have an sli board. And don't buy a new motherboard for it. You have one that works fine.

Performance gap is steep.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=15
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=16
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=17
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=18
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=19

 

[john_antonio]

is gtx260 bad? and 280 i have to add 200 more.. its too much.. and is the 9800gx2 better than the gtx260? if i'd go sli in the future, which one is the best to have for the meantime? 9800gx2 or gtx260?

 

[john_antonio]

btw, im thinking of the core 216 shaders gtx260 version..

 

[dagger]

It depends on how much each cost. Newegg had EVGA 9800gx2 at $280, and EVGA gtx260 core 216 at $300. The 9800gx2 blows gtx260 core 216 away in term of performance. Not sure what's the difference in price with trade up program.

 

[-Fran-]

Uhm... For the future... That's a tough one, lol.

I'm thinking (for the future) that the GTX260-216 would be better, since it's kinda newer (same DX10 support though), so the drivers still have a little more room to give it a little more juice. So if you get one in the future, you'll have a nice boost indeed.

Now, if you ask me, SLI'ed 9800GTX+'s should be the same than getting that 9800GX2 in the step up program and will last around the same time. And on your resolution, they'll last a LOT.

Esop!

 

[dagger]

Uhm... For the future... That's a tough one, lol.

I'm thinking (for the future) that the GTX260-216 would be better, since it's kinda newer (same DX10 support though), so the drivers still have a little more room to give it a little more juice. So if you get one in the future, you'll have a nice boost indeed.

Now, if you ask me, SLI'ed 9800GTX+'s should be the same than getting that 9800GX2 in the step up program and will last around the same time. And on your resolution, they'll last a LOT.

Esop!

It's not possible for single gtx260 core 216 to outperform single 9800gx2 no matter how long you wait. The gap is far too big.

 

[john_antonio]

but for the future? and the dx10.1 support.. which one will be future proof? and the quad sli for 9800gx2, i heard that it does not perform well..

 

[major53]

john_antonio I don't know why your pc is stuttering but I don't think it your video.I have the 9800gtx and I don't get stuttering in any game,playing crysis warhead and it's a pretty taxing game.evga has a good plan with the step up plan,if I wanted to step up to a better card I would go with the gtx 280.but like I said I don't beleave it's your video card causeing the stuttering ,also does it do it in any other game?still with that said evga plan I still would step up to the gtx 280.and do what Yuka suggested just use a cheap card until you get the new card in.hope this helps you out

 

[john_antonio]

nevermind the stuttering thing... help on stepping up to what card, cause i just want a new more futureproof card...

 

[-Fran-]

It's not possible for single gtx260 core 216 to outperform single 9800gx2 no matter how long you wait. The gap is far too big.

Yep, but we know that for SLI it's better to have 2 GTX260's than 2 9800GX2's, right? XD

Esop!

 

[dagger]

but for the future? and the dx10.1 support.. which one will be future proof? and the quad sli for 9800gx2, i heard that it does not perform well..

Gtx260 does not support dx10.1 now, and it will not in the future. Dx10.1 requires gpu architectural changes, and Nvidia's current gpu can't run it, it can't be added through a driver.

And yes, 9800gx2 quad sli scales badly. Here are a few fps charts.
Call of Duty 4
Crysis
Ghost Recon 2
FEAR
STALKER

 

[crowheart27us]

ive run both a 8800 gt and a 4850 and on both hellgate runs like crap.(at your res that card should be able to handle hellgate maxed) it was never a really optimized game. i wouldnt blame it on your card. if you got the funds go for the step up and grab the gtx 260.

 

[Insanejew]

So if there was no difference in price, and you didnt want to SLI, which card would be better GTX 260 216 Core? or the 9800 GX2?

 

[dagger]

So if there was no difference in price, and you didnt want to SLI, which card would be better GTX 260 216 Core? or the 9800 GX2?

If no sli, and at the same price, obviously 9800gx2. The performance gap between it and gtx260 core 216 is quite big.

 

[Insanejew]

How much more power does the 9800 gx2 pull then the GTX 260 core 216?
And how well can you overclock with either of them?

 

[dagger]

How much more power does the 9800 gx2 pull then the GTX 260 core 216?
And how well can you overclock with either of them?

Power consumption chart, idle and load.
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3408&p=9
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=22

At load, 289.2w compared to 274.8w.

 

[john_antonio]

so what gpu would be the most futureproof with the dx10.1?

 

[dagger]

so what gpu would be the most futureproof with the dx10.1?

Neither support dx10.1 now, and neither will in the future. If you want dx10.1, only ATI cards support it.

Although as it looks now, game developers will likely skip over to dx11. Assassin's Creed is the only game that support dx10.1 to date.

 

[john_antonio]

so when dx11 or dx10.1 comes out, i have to change my gpu again? do you know how to do the step up process?

 

[dagger]

so when dx11 or dx10.1 comes out, i have to change my gpu again? do you know how to do the step up process?

I've never tried the Step Up program, but if I remember correctly, it has a 3 month limit. DX11 debuts with Windows 7, which is officially announced to launch in January 2010, although rumored to arrive as soon as June 2009. Either way, it's long past 3 months.

 

[john_antonio]

oh thanks... i've seen the step up program.. i've already registered but on queue 25.. i was thinking it's gonna take a long time.. but where can i sell my 9800gtx+ so i could just get a 216 from a store, newegg or something...

 

[dagger]

oh thanks... i've seen the step up program.. i've already registered but on queue 25.. i was thinking it's gonna take a long time.. but where can i sell my 9800gtx+ so i could just get a 216 from a store, newegg or something...

If it's a 9800gx2, the performance difference with 9800gtx+ might be worth it, and that is a big might. Gtx261, no matter how many cores, is definitely not worth trying to sell the 9800gtx+, taking a loss in the process, and buy a whole new one from the store.

 

[john_antonio]

so running 2 9800gtx+ on sli would be a future proof method like until late 2009?